Machine gun operation device for aircraft



Nov. 7, 1944. M. GLOWKA MACHINE GUN OPERATION DEVICE FOR AIRCRAFT Filed Aug. 20, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN\;ENTOR Marti/2 Glow/k ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1944. M. GLOWKA 2,362,199

MACHINE GUN OPERATION DEVICE FOR AIRCRAFT Filed Aug. 20, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvzmoa Jbrll'r: GZaw/T-a.

- BY v I 6 ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1944. M. GLOWKA 2,362,199

MACHINE GUN OPERATION DEVICE FOR AIRCRAFT Filed Aug. 20, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR flay-tire Glamfa Patented Nov. 7, 1944 MACHINE GUN OPERATION DEVICE FOR- AIRCRAFT 'Martin Glowka, New York, N. Y.

Application August 20, 1941, Serial No. 407,528

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a machine gun operation device for aircraft. The invention also proposes a new arrangement of armor for bombers.

More specifically, insofar as the machine gun operation device is concerned, it is contemplated to provide a plurality of universally supported members having passages through which the front ends of guns may slidably pass. It is further proposed to connect a rail with the rear ends of the guns and to support the rail in such a way that the rail may be moved forward and rearwards and upwards and downwards for aiming the guns simultaneously in various directions.

Still further the invention contemplates a construction as specified in the previous paragraph which may be applied along the fuselage, on one or both sides thereof, and on the wings of aircraft.

Insofar as the armor for bombers is concerned, the invention contemplates the provision of an armor rack having wall portions for extending across the sides and the top of the bomb load on an airplane.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of an airplane constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the airplane shown. in Fig. 1, disclosing the mechanism for directing the guns.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line.fi6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 1-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a transverse enlarged sectional view taken on the line Ill-40 of Fig. 1.

plane. and I8 mounted upon the inner and outer faces Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line HIl of Fig. 10.

The machine gun operation device for aircraft, in accordance with this invention, includes a plurality of universally supported members I2 having passages I3 through which the front ends M of guns l4 slidably pass. The members i2 in the particular form of the invention shown in the drawings, comprise spherical shaped members. These members are universally supported by socket devices l5. These socket devices are mounted upon the wall or walls I6 of the airplane. The walls !6 may comprise wall portions of the fuselage, or wall portions of the wings, as may be readily understood by an examination of Figs. 1 and 2. It should be noted that the guns I4 are arranged in groups in straight lines extended along the sides of the fuselage, and the front and rear edges of the wings of the air- The socket devices [5 comprise plates ll of the wall portions l6 and engaging over the spherical members l2 in such a way that the spherical members l2 .may pivot universally in the usual way of a ball and socket construction.

The guns I4 may comprise machine guns or guns of any other design. These guns have their rear ends M provided with stems l9 which connect with elements 20 which are universally movably supported on one edge of the rail 2 I.

The elements 20 comprise spherical shaped elements. The universal support of these elements 20 is accomplished by socket devices 22 mounted on the edge of the rail 2|. Means is provided for moving the rail 2! forwards and rearwards, and upwards and downwards for directing the guns in various directions. In the particular design of the invention shown in the drawings, the guns l 4 are arranged in groups, and each group is provided with one rail 2! and mechanism for moving said rail.

The rail 2| is provided with verticalposts 24 at the corners thereof extending downwards through a frame 25 which is slidable on a stationary housing 26. The posts 24 have heads 21 at the bottom ends. Springs 28 are coaxially mounted on their bottom end portions of the posts 24 and act between the heads 21 and the frame 25 for normally urging the rail 2| downwards. Arms 30 normally support the rail in a desired elevated position. These arms 30 are mounted upon spindles 3| which are supported in lugs 32 on the housing 26. Each arm 30 has a downwardly extending section 30 These sections have slots 33. Pins 34 engage these slots and are supported on collars 35 which are rotative on a screw 36. The pins 34 have heads which maintain them in the slots 33.

The screw 36 is rotatively supported at one end by a bearing 31 mounted on the housing 26. At the other end the screw 36 is supported by a bearing 88. The screw 36 has its threaded portion 36 threadedly engaging the bearing 38. The handle 46 is mounted on the screw 36. The arrangement is such that the screw 36 may be rotated by its handle 46, and due to the threads 36 the screw will be caused to move forwards or rearwards when turned. The collars 35 are rotative on the screw 36 but are not slidable on the screw because they are mounted between flanges 36 mounted on the screw.36. 'Consequently, when the screw 36 is turned the collars 35 will move along with the screw, carrying the headed pins 34 which pivotally move the, arms "30.

The frame 25 has a lug 42 projecting from one side, and extending out from a s10t43 formed in the side of'the housing 26. AscrewM-threadedly engages the lugs 42. This screw 44 is rotatively supported'in bearings "45 and AB mounted on the housing 26.. A handle 41 is mounted on one end of the screw. by which it may be turned. When the handle 4'! is turned in one direction or the other, the frame 25'will be moved and will move forwards or rearwards.

Each gun M has a projecting key 48 engaging a key slot l3' formed inthe member l2. Each key slot 13* communicates with a passage l3. This construction prevents the guns M from turning relative to themembers I2, while permitting the guns to move forwards and rearwards through the members 12.

The operation of the device is as follows:

A group of the guns l4 may be aimed by manipulating the handles "48 and of' the'co-ntrol means thereof. When the handle 46 is turned the arms 36 are indirectly moved upwards or downwards for raising or lowering the rail 2| which indirectly moves/the rear ends of the guns upwardsor downwards. The handle may be turned in one direction or the other for indirectly moving the frame 25, which indirectly moves the rail 2| forwards'and 'rearwards for moving the rear ends of theguns laterally. Thus the guns may be'directed universally as desired.

In Figs. 101and 11 the armor for the bomber is disclosed. The bombs fill-are shownin their relatively supported positions, usually found in airplanes. The armor comprises an armor rack 5i stationarily mounted within the airplane and having wall portions 52, 53, 54, etc., extending across the sides and tops of the bomb loads. The bombs are dropped in the usual way. The armor rack serves to protect the bombs from being hit-by gun fire from the sides or the top.

It is to be understood thatthe handles "40 and ll may be located at any suitable position, in the fuselage, wings, or at the pilot's seat. It

"is also to be understood that'the operating handles 66 and 41 may be substituted by an electric motor so that when the corresponding switch of I the motor is connected by the pilot, the correspondingoperating shafts 36 and '66 will function.

frame, means universally attaching the rear ends of said guns to said rail, posts extended vertically downwards from said rail and passing slidably through said frame to limit movement of said rail to the vertical relative to said frame,

manually operated means mounted on the frame for lifting said rail vertically to pivot said guns and lower the front ends of their barrels, and resilient means on said posts urging said rail continually downwards against said manually operated means.

2. A-device of the class describedcomprising an airplane fuselage, a plurality of machine guns mounted within'the fuselage, -means fixed in said fuselage universally mounting the front ends of the barrels of said guns, a housing mounted within said fuselageto therearof said guns, a frame horizontally slidably supported in said housing, a rail superimposed above said frame, means universally attaching the rear ends of said guns'to said rail, posts'extended vertically downwards from said rail and passing slidably through said frame to limit movement of said rail to the vertical relative to said frame,

manually operated means mountedonthe frame pivot as the-collars move.

3. A device of theclass described comprising an airplane fuselage, a plurality of machine guns mounted within" the f'uselagesmeans ii-iced in said fuselage universally fm ounti-ng the front ends of the barrels of *said "g u-ns, "a housing mounted within 5 saidfuselage to the-rear of: said guns, a 1 frame "horizon-tally sli'dably supported in said housing, a rail superimposedabove-said frame, means universally attaching the rear e-nds of said guns to saidraiL- postsextended vertically downwards from .tsaid rail wand 1i pa'ssing slidably through said frame to limit movement of said rail "to the vertical .ar'elative :to said frame, manually operated means mounted on the frame forlifting said; rail verticallyttoapivot isaidzgdns and lower the front ends of -their'ibarrels, and means on said-posts urging :said rail, continually downwards against said manually operated means, comprising heads formedon. the-bottom ends of said posts, and springs coaxiallymounted on said posts and operating between .said heads and the bottom" facezof .saidrfra'me.

4. A device of the class described "comprising an airplane fuselage, a plurality of machine guns mounted within the fuselage, means fixed in said fuselage universally mounting the front ends of the barrels of said guns, a housing mounted within said fuselage to the rear of said guns, a frame horizontally slidably supported in said housing, a rail superimposed above said frame, means universally attaching the rear ends of said guns to said rail, posts extended vertically downwards from said rail and passing slidably through said frame to limit movement of said rail to the vertical relative to said frame, manually operated means mounted on the frame for lifting said rail vertically to pivot said guns and lower the front ends of their barrels, and resilient means on said posts urging said rail continually downwards against said manual means, and means for moving said frame and rail as a unit relative to said housing to pivot said guns from left to right.

5. A device of the class described comprising an airplane fuselage, a plurality of machine guns mounted within the fuselage, means fixed in said fuselage universally mounting the front ends of the barrels of said guns, a housing mounted within said fuselage to the rear of said guns, a frame horizontally slidably supported in said housing, a rail superimposed above said frame, means universally attaching the rear ends of said guns to said rail, posts extended vertically downwards from said rail and passing slidably through said frame to limit movement of said rail to the vertical relative to said frame, manually operated means mounted on the frame for lifting said rail vertically to pivot said guns and lower the front ends of their barrels, and resilient means on said posts urging said rail continually downwards against said manual means, and means for moving said frame and rail as a 'unit relative to said housing to "pivot said guns from left to right, said latter means, comprising spaced bearings mounted on the sides of said housing, a manually operative rotative screw rotatively supported in said bearings, and a lug projecting from said frame and engaging the threaded portion of said screw between said bearings.

MARTIN GLOWKA. 

